Cove and other lighting system



Aug. 4, 1931. P. M. HOTCHKIN 1,817,034

COVE AND OTHER LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed May 3, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4, 1931. P. M. HOTCHKIN 1,817,034

COVE AND OTHER LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed May 3, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 imlllw" llim i" l im jivezzzcz 7204 M /7/07'C//K//V Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES PAUL, I. HOTCHKIN, OF CHICAGQILLINOIS COVE AND OTHER LIGHTING SYSTEM Application filed Kay 8,

My invention relates generically to a system or method of lighting. For convenience it has been illustrated in connection with a lighting system that may be used for what 5 is known as cove lighting, or window-li hts or the like. In lighting systems of this c aracter' it is the practice to employ conduits or housings for the wires and at certain intervals on the housing the usual sockets are provided in which the bulbs or lamps may be mounted. Different installations require that the sockets be placed at different spaces apart, so that a particular volume of illumination may be obtained. Also it is desirable in this type of lighting to employ a plurality of circuits for the purpose of llluminating the bulbs or shades of different colors, so that a desired color-scheme may be carried out. Having this in mind, it will be obvious that a lighting equipment firm will have to build the units as ordered for each particular job, because, so far as I am aware, there are at present no facilities whereby the sockets and lamps may be disposed in different ositions in different installations, unless, 0 course, the lighting concern carries in stock an almost prohibitive quantity of the conduits or housings with the sockets arranged at fixed intervals and on centers spaced apart at different distances. 7

I have designed, as will hereinafter be discussed, a system of lighting and installation that willpermit the contractor to utilize the same equipment upon divers installations, and by the instrumentalities herein disclosed, he may position the sockets on centers at any desired distance apart.

With the present structure, there are prac-.

tically no limitations as to the distances the sockets may be spaced apart and with the use of my present structure, it is unnecessary for the contractor or the supply house to carry more than one ty e of construction because of the fact that t e sockets in this type may be adjusted to any position of centers.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide a system of lighting having divers objects in view, among WhlCh are compactness 1926. Serial No. 108,578.

in the arrangement of the parts, dependability in its operation, economy. in manufacture, and novelty in construction, and I prefer to carry out my invention in substantially the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings that form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a perspective of a unit of the lighting system having the parts separated to show their construction and manner of assembly.

Figure 1a is a perspective of the closure plate before being divided.

Figure 2 is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in longitudinal elevation of a fragmentary portion of my lighting system showing the same in use.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View of the housing showing the base of the socket separated to illustrate the manner of assembling the same with the housing.

The drawings are in a sense schematic for the purpose of illustrating a typical or preferred form in which my invention may be made, and in these drawings I have designated similar parts b the same reference characters wherever t ey appear throughout the several views.

The housing or support 5 for receiving the conductor wires and for maintaining the sockets in position is preferably an elongated metal stamping of substantially U- shape in transverse section providing a bottom wall 6, parallel side walls 7, and having an open portion opposite the bottom wall 6. The upper edges of the side walls 7 are provided with inwardly extending overhanging lateral flanges 8 that project towards each other in a plane parallel with the plane of the bottom wall 6 and at the inner edges of these flanges the metal is bent downwardly and obliquel as at 9 towards the walls 7 and then horizontally as at 10 so that there are provided oppositely disposed longitudinal ides or grooves 11 to receive the longitu mal ed es of the cover or closure plate 12. While prefer the construction herein shown, with the 'des' in the form of Z-shape or S-shape anges on the side walls 7, other forms and other means-ma be provided for receiving the cover or c osure plate 12.

In ractice, I prefer to make the housing 5 an the cover or top plate 12 in lengths of ten feet, or more or less, as may be found expedient, and of such dimensions as to provi e a convenient enclosure for a plurality of conductor wires 13. For. convenience in storag: and shipment, the cover plate 12 may assembled with the housing y placing one longitudinal edge of the p ate in one guide or groove 11 and then forcin or pushing the opposite longitudinal ed e into the other gui e or groove so that sai cover or closure will snap into position. As the housing is of sheet metal, the portion thereof forming the Z-shape or S-shape flanges will readily spring or yield to permit of the foregoing assembly. Where a longer length of housing is desired a coupling element 14 of substantially U-shape is supplied which is inserted about one-half of its length into the end of one housing section and a corresponding distance into the adjacent end of the next housing section so that the two sections may be pushed together until their ends abut. The sections and coupling may be then secured in position b screws or the like that are passed through apertures 15 and 16 in the respective bottoms of the coupling and the housing.

As there is no definite rule for disposing the sections or the sockets, due to the fact that each job or installation is of difierent 'design and of different dimensions, the contractor and supply house need only ascertain the distance between the centers of the sockets on the particular job and then place the sockets tem orarily in osition upon the housing with t e cover p ate 12 removed. The distance between the adjacent edges of successive sockets may then be measured and the top late 12 then cut the proper length to rovi e a plurality of strips 12a as shown in igure 1 of the drawings. These shorter strips of the cover plate while providing closures for the open portion of the housing, also act as spacers for maintaining the sockets on the desired centers.

The socket which I prefer to employ is of the two-part ty e consistin of a substantially rectangu ar shaped iase 17 of porcelain or other insulating material and a superposed rectangular-sha d top member 18 that is centrally bore as at 19 and has an annular flange or cylindrical wall 20 surrounding the opening and extending above the upper surface of the top member, which member acts as a clamping element,

as will hereinafter more fully appear. The socket base, as seen in detail in Figures 3 and 4, is provided with longitudinal grooves 21, through which the conductor wires 13 pass and are connected with the usual socket terminal elements, one of which includes a threaded shell 22 secured to and projecting upwardly from the base and when the socket base and top are assembled this shell is disposed in the opening 19 of the top member to receive the usual electric bulb 23. After the wires 13 have been properly connected to the socket terminals and the wires placed in the channel-shaped housing, the base member 17 of the socket is inserted into the housing by tilting it to one side so as to permit its widest portion to as throu h the space between the guide anges of t e housing in the manner shown in Figure 4. The to member 18 may then be assembled with t e base b means of the screws or bolts 24. As will be seen, the base is rovided along its upper longitudinal e ges with corner rabbets 25 to permit the base to fit against the lower inner edges of the guide-flanges on the upper edges of the side walls of the housing, and the top member of the socket is likewise provided with longitudinal corner rabbets 26 that permit this member of the socket to clear the upper or outer surface of the portion 8 of the guidefiange and clamp the cover plate in position. Thus it will be obvious that when the two parts of the socket are drawn together by the screws or bolts 24, the respective parts will be firmly clamped in position upon the guide-flanges of the housing. Just prior to the tightening of the bolts or screws 24, the plate sections 12a are laced in the grooves 11 and the socket mem r moved into abutment with the adjacent edge of the late section, so that when the two arts 0 the socket are drawn together by t e screws or bolts 24, the cover plate sections 12a will also be secured in their respective positions thereby and the sockets will be maintained andspaced on the desired centers.

The separable members 17 and 18 may of course be of other construction than shown because it is obvious the socket element need not be installed therein but may be outside the same and connected by lead wires to the conductors through members 17 and 18.

Any desired instrumentality may be employed for mounting the housing after assembly upon the wall, ceiling, or in the cove, but as the same forms no portion of this invention, it need not be disclosed.

While I have herein disclosed a specific form in which my invention may be practiced it will be understood that modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the principles involved, and I desire it understood that all.

such substitutions are contemplated as coming within the scope of the a pended claims. It will also be understood t at any desired instrumentality may be employed for mounting the housing, after assembly, u on a wall, ceilin or in a cove or cornice, ut as the same orms no portion of m resent invention, it need not be herein disc osed.

What I claim as new is 1. A lighting system comprising a trough for the reception of electric conductors, means for closing parts of the open portion of said 'trough, a two-part separable device the respective members of which are positioned respectively inside and outside the.

housing to close the remaining open portion thereof and for providing support for an electric fitting, means for drawing the parts of the separable device together to clamp the same to the sides of the trough, and means including said separable device for maintaining said closure means against dislodgment.

2. A lighting system comprising an elongated housing having a. longitudinally disposed opening, a plurality of cover-plates assembled withsaid housing and extended across said opening, and a two-part separable unit adapted for maintaining an electric fitting in predetermined position on said housing, the parts of the unit adapted to be engaged with inner and outer faces of the housing walls and bridging the opening, means for drawing the parts of the unit together, whereby, when clamped together with a portion of the housing between them, to maintain the'unit in position, and means including said unit for maintaining said cover plates aganst dislodgment.

. 3. A lighting fixture comprising an elongated housing having a longitudinal opening, a separable fitting consisting of a base and cap positioned in said opening the members of which are disposed respectively within and without the housing and the sides of said members bein clamped to inner and outer surfaces of the housing at the edges of said opening, closure means for the remaining portion of the opening, and means including said fitting for maintaining said closure means against lateral dislodgment.

4. A lighting fixture comprising an elongated housing having a longitudinal opening, a separable fitting ositioned in said opening the members 0 which are wider than the opening, one of which members is disposed inside the housing back of the opening and the other member is disposed outside the opening, means for securing the members together whereby said members 1: may be clamped toinner and outer surfaces of the housing at the edges of the opening, closure means for the remaining portion of the opening, and means including said fitting for maintaining said closure means against lateral dislodgment.

5. A lighting fixture comprising an elongated trough-shaped housing open at its top, a plurality of conductors disposed in said housing in such position that intermediate portions may be temporarily withdrawn through said opening, and an electric fitting a member of which has a portion that is wider than the opening, said member being provided with means to receive and maintain Withdrawn portions of the conductors upon its upper portion nearest the open part of the housing and is adapted to be'supported across said opening during the mounting of the wires thereon, said fitting member being insertable in the housing b a tilting action whereby to return the w1th rawn portions of the conductors to the housing, a second fitting member coacting with the first member to cover the wires thereon and engaged with adjacent edges of the housing, and means for securing the fitting in position.

6. A lighting fixture comprising an elongated trough-shaped housing en at its top, a plurality of conductors isposed in said housing and adapted to have intermediate portions temporarily withdrawn through said opening, and an electric fitting a member of which has grooves in its surface normally nearest the housing opening and adapted to be temporarily supported across said opening whereby the withdrawn portions of the conductors may be mounted in said grooves, a second fitting member covering said grooves and the conductors therein, and means for clamping the members to the edges of the housing to secure the fitting in position.

7. A device of the kind described comprising a metal strip bent to provide an elongated housing having oppositely facing flanges and a longitudinal opening between said flanges, conductors extending longitudinally within said housing, a member positioned within the housing and engaging the inner faces of said flanges, means for securing a conductor to said member, an electric outlet device having electrical connection with said conductor, an element extended across said opening and engaged with the outer faces of said flanges and having a counter-part construction with respect to said outlet, and means for drawing the inner member and outer element together to clamp them to said flanges.

8. A device of the kind described com prising a metal strip bent to provide an elongated housing having oppositely facing flanges and an opening between the inner edges of said flanges, conductors extending longitudinally within said housing, a member positioned within the housing in engagement with the inner faces of said flan es and havlng a channel to receive a conductor, an electric fitting having electrical connection with said conductor, a second member engaged with the first member and covering the conductor channel, said second member extended across said opening and engaged with the outer faces of said flanges, and devices for drawing said members together to clamp them to said flanges.

9. A device of the kind described comprising a metal strip bent to provide an elongated housing having oppositely facing flan es and an opening between said flanges, con uctors extending longitudinally within said housing, two members coacting with said flanges one disposed inside and the other outside said housing, one of said members having a channel for the reception of a conductor and the other member providing a cover for the channel, an electric outlet device on one of said members having electrical connection with the conductor, and devices for drawing said members together to clamp them to said flanges.

10. A device of the kind described comprising a metal strip bent to provide an elongated housing having opposite inturned flanges and an opening between said flanges, conductors extending longitudinally within said housing, a pluralit of spaced members positioned within said housing and engaged with said flanges, means on the members for securing the conductors thereto, means for maintaining said members in position including a plurality of exterior elements extended across the inner members and the opening and coacting with said flanges, and means for drawing the respective members and elements together to clamp them to said flanges, and plates extended across said opening and closing the latter between each thus arranged member and element, the ends of said plates being engaged by a portion of one of the clamped. parts to maintain them in position.

11. A device of the kind described comprising a metal strip bent to provide an elongated housing having opposite inturned flanges and a longitudinal opening between the same, conductors extending longitudinally within the housing, a plurality of members positioned within the housing and engaged with said flanges, means for securing the conductors to said members, means for maintaining said members in position consisting of a plurality of members coacting with the respective first members and extended exteriorly across the opening in coaction with the flanges, and devices for drawing the respeqtive pairs of coacting members together to clamp them to said flanges, a fitting carried by each pair of members, and a plurality of plates closing the opening between each pair of members, the ends of said plates engaged with a portion of an adjacent member to maintain the said plate in positions 12. A device of the kind described comprising a metal strip bent to provide an elongated housing having oppositely facing flanges and a longitudinal opening between said flanges, a member within the housing and coacting with certain faces of said flanges, means for maintaining said member in position including a second member disposed across said 0 ening and coacting with the other faces 0 said flanges, and devices for drawing said members to ether to clamp them to said flanges, an electric fitting carried by the first-mentioned inner member and extending through the second member to receive an electrical device, and closure plates bridging the opening alongside said members and maintained in position thereby.

13. A device of the kind described comprising the combination with'a conduit having facing flanges and having conductors therein, a base member having a channel in its upper surface for the reception of an electrical conductor, a terminal outlet element on said member having electric connection with the conductor, a to member havin a counterpart formation with respect to said outlet element, said base member and top member coacting with each other and disposed upon the inner and outer surfaces of the conduit flanges, and means for drawing the base and top members together to clamp them upon the flanges of the conduit.

14. A device of the kind described comprising the combination with a conduit having facing flanges and having conductors therein, a base member, a terminal outlet element on said member, said base member having a channel upon each side of said element for the reception of a conductor, and said outlet element having suitable connection with said conductors, a top member coverin the conductors and havin an annular flange surrounding an opening into which the outlet element extends, said base member and top member coacting with each other and disposed upon the inner and outer surfaces of the conduit flanges, and clamping means for drawing said base and top members together to 0 amp them upon the flanges of the conduit.

15. A device of the kind described comrising a conduit consisting of a metal strip ent longitudinally to provide a housing having a longitudinal opening, inwardly extending flanges along the edges of the opening, diverging flanges extending into the housing from the edges of said first-named flan inwardly projecting extensions at the inner edges of the diverging flanges, a plate fitted into the re-entrant angle formed by the diverging flanges and inward extensions and forminga closure for a portion of the conduit opening, a separable device dis posed in the remaining portion ofthe opening, and means for drawing the parts of said device together upon the inner and outer edges of said opening, said separable device providing support for a fittin and in clamped position adapted to maintain the plate against lateral dislod ent.

16. A device of the kind described comprising a conduit consisting of a metal strip bent longitudinally to provide a housing having a longitudinal opening, inwardly extending lips facing each other along the edges of said opening, V-shaped flanges-extending into the housing from the edges of said lips, a plate closing the opening and positioned by the walls of the V-shaped flanges, and forming a closure for a portion of the conduit opening, a separable device disposed in the remaining portion ofthe opening, and means for drawing the parts of said device together upon the inner and outer edges of said opening, said separable device providing support for a fitting and in clamped position adapted to maintain the plate against lateral dislodgment.

17. A device of the kind described comprising a conduit structure consisting of a metal strip having longitudinal bends to provide a shell having a longitudinal opening and lateral flanges extending along the sides of said opening, towards each other, extensions along the inner edges of said flanges that enter the shell at angles to each other, shelves along the inner edges of said extensions that project towards each other, and a readily removable cover plate closing the longitudinal opening in the shell and adapted to be sprung transversely into and out of the re-entrant angle formed by the extensions and shelves.

18. A device of the kind described comprising a conduit structure consisting of a metal strip having longitudinal bends to provide a shell having a longitudinal opening and lateral flanges extending along the sides of said opening, towards each other,

extensions along the inner edges of said flanges that enter the shell at an les to each other, shelves along the inner e ges of said extensions that project towards each other, a readily removable cover plate closing the longitudinal opening in the shell and adapted to be sprung transversely into and out of the re-entrant angle formed by the extensions and shelves, and means for mounting an electric circuit outlet on said conduit structure.

Si ed at Chicago, in the county of Cook,

and tate of Illinois this 19th day of April,

PAUL M. HOTOHKIN. 

